In 1930s England, Alice Wright is stifled by her family and home life, leading her to make the impulsive decision to marry wealthy American Bennett Van Cleve.
When they reach his hometown of Baileyville, Kentucky, to start their new life, Alice fears she may have made a huge mistake. Bennett favours work over his wife and living with an overbearing and outspoken father-in-law and a cranky maid in a stuffy backwater town is not all it’s cracked up to be.
That is until Alice meets Margery O'Hare, a woman who doesn't play by the rule’s men have set for generations. Margery is determined to get books and literature to the poorer families in the community, and she needs Alice's help.
Trekking alone on their routes Alice, Margery and the other Packhorse Librarians discover freedom and friendship amongst the mountain forests.
But not all are on board with the initiative, and when the inhabitants of Baileyville stand against them they must rely on their belief in one another, and the written word, to save them.
This book. I simply don't know where to start. I knew this was going to be a goody from the start, hence treating myself to the hardback edition (something I very rarely do). But I would never have guessed the feelings it would evoke. There is not one character that I didn't love, or love to hate.
Having never read anything by Moyes before, I'm not sure why this title captured my interest so forcefully. Perhaps, the thought of a story about the 1930s packhorse librarians or simply the fact it is a book about books. From only a few pages in, which I sat and greedily read on the sofa in Waterstones, I was hooked. I couldn't wait to get stuck in, but it didn't take long for me to realise this was a story that I should pace myself over, that it would be worth every chapter.
Moyes writes such in depth characters, people with such personalities that they practically jump off the page. Alice was somewhat naive but so strong, Beth was hilarious, and Margery was quite simply outstanding!
Unfortunately, this is going to be one of those reviews where I actually tell you very little other than to go read this book. I wouldn't want to spoil one sentence for anyone. Here is a story about the love and importance of books, strong friendship and even stronger women. This is a book I will treasure forever.
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